1 month ago
Nathalie Baye, nan renowned French character who appeared successful Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can (2002), has died. She was 77.
The 4x César Award-winning character died connected Friday evening astatine her location successful Paris aft suffering from Lewy assemblage dementia, Baye’s family told Agence France-Presse.
Born July 6, 1948 successful Mainneville, Eure, Normandy, Baye graduated from France’s Conservatoire nationalist supérieur d’art dramatique (National Academy of Dramatic Arts) successful 1972, making her movie debut that twelvemonth successful Robert Wise’s Two People, starring Peter Fonda and Lindsay Wagner.
Baye went connected to prima successful specified French films arsenic Day for Night (1973), Jean-Luc Godard’s Every Man for Himself (1980), Strange Affair (1981), The Return of Martin Guerre (1982), La Balance (1982) and Venus Beauty (2000), Feelings (2003), The Young Lieutenant (2006) and It’s Only nan End of nan World (2017).
In nan U.S., Baye played French virologist Françoise Barré-Sinoussi successful nan 1993 Emmy-winning TV movie And nan Band Played On, astir nan find and dispersed of HIV/AIDS.
Baye besides worked pinch Spielberg successful his Oscar-nominated movie Catch Me If You Can, playing Paula, nan mother of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Frank Abagnale Jr., nan convicted con creator turned information consultant. She starred alongside Christopher Walken arsenic Frank Abagnale Sr., and Tom Hanks arsenic Carl Hanratty, nan FBI supplier who brought Frank Jr. in.
Most recently, Baye starred successful Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) arsenic Madame Montmirail, appearing alongside nan precocious Maggie Smith successful 1 of her last movie appearances.
Baye is survived by character girl Laura Smet, whom she shared pinch musician ex Johnny Hallyday.
